We’ve been hearing the “gamification” bandied about lately. Gamification is the use of game play mechanics for non-game applications. It strives to encourage users to engage in desired behaviors in connection with the applications. Gamification works by making technology more engaging, and by encouraging desired behaviors, taking advantage of humans’ psychological predisposition to engage in gaming. The technique can encourage people to perform chores that they ordinarily consider boring, such as completing surveys, shopping, or reading web sites. Here’s an example of gamification combined with an interactive billboard. Winners get a free McDonald’s dessert. Remember the experiments Pavlov did on dogs? Pavlov would have loved this one. Guess who’s the dog?

Here’s the story as told on the Ooh-TV website. “McDonald’s Sweden has just finished its Pick N’ Play operation. The concept was simple — it allowed passers-by with a Smartphone to play Pong on a giant screen in Stockholm. Winners got a free dessert.

Anyone close to the screen could log on to a specially created web-site and play. There was no need to download any application. The player chose the dessert that he wanted to win and started to play, using the telephone as a joystick. If he was not knocked out after 30 seconds, he received a coupon on his phone enabling him to collect his prize at a nearby McDonald’s. The campaign was created by DDB Stockholm.”

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While words are good for some things, visual examples are often the best way to communicate about the visual environment. This site is a place to present, explore, and discuss what’s happening in our outdoor space, especially that space which belongs to us, the commons.

Who controls our public realm? Should only the few mega-media corporations benefit while paying practically nothing for the privilege? Ads unrelated to place are becoming more distracting as they compete with our local character.

As they become larger, brighter and faster — what is the impact? How does it affect our children and us? What will or should the future look like? Why should we care?